Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev wrote to the Board of Control for Cricket in India and applied for amnesty following his move to the breakaway Indian Cricket League in 2007.
Recently, the BCCI had also granted amnesty to former India wicket-keeper Kiran More, who had also joined the ICL and was among the players who were banned by the BCCI for their association with the rebel league.
A press release from the BCCI stated:
Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev is back in the BCCI fold. Reuters
The BCCI has received a letter from Mr. Kapil Dev, former India captain.
In the letter, Kapil Dev has informed the Board that he has resigned from the Essel Sports Private Limited / ICL. He has also stated in the letter that he has always supported the BCCI, and will continue to do so in the future.
The BCCI acknowledges Mr. Kapil Dev’s immense contribution to Indian cricket, and looks forward to a fruitful association with him in the years to come.
Kapil’s move comes after the BCCI had refused to invite him for functions where it honoured ex-cricketers with cheques. Then, of course, the former Indian captain had said that he couldn’t force anyone to invite him. Speaking to Times of India, he had said: “If they don’t recognize my contribution to Indian cricket, I don’t have to push them to recognize me. They can invite anyone they want and I have nothing to do with it.”
But now, we find he does have something to do with it.
For those who came in late, the BCCI has ratified a one-time benefit payment to former national and domestic players, totalling approximately Rs 70 crore ($13 million), for their services to Indian cricket. The top payments going to players who have played more than 100 Tests. Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar fall under this category, and will receive Rs 1.5 crore ($280,000 approx) each.
